14 hikers rescued after being trapped overnight on flooded Tsitsikamma hiking trail in South Africa

Fourteen hikers had to be rescued from Tsitsikamma hiking trail on the Garden Route in South Africa after becoming cut off by swollen, flooded rivers on Friday.

The hiking group – which included 12 university students – were reportedly cut off on the trail by the heavy flowing Lottering River, on the north eastern side of the Bloukrans River, following the rains. They were trapped between Elandsbos and Lottering Rivers.

One of the hiker’s parents managed to alert NSRI Knysna about the group’s plight on Friday afternoon. Oyster Bay, Storms River and Plettenberg Bay crews were then also notified.

The 14 hikers, including nine females and five males, had apparently crossed the Lottering River in the morning.

“Then, on reaching the Elandsbos River they had found that river to be swiftly flowing and they were unable to cross the river,” said the NSRI in a statement. “They had then backtracked to the Lottering River which was by that stage also swollen and they were unable to cross the river finding themselves trapped in between the two rivers in the Rushes Pass Valley.”

MTO (Mountains to Sea) Forestry, Plettenberg Bay First Responders and the NSRI worked together with an MTO fire truck in an attempt to reach the hikers on Friday late afternoon, but by that stage the Lottering River was totally flooded, and efforts had to be suspended for safety reasons because it was too dark.

In the interim, Lodewyk van Rensburg, NSRI Oyster Bay and NSRI Storms River station commander, assisted by Ian Gray, NSRI Eastern Cape regional director, initiated a joint rescue operation planned for first light on Saturday morning – in cooperation with Storms River Police station, the Police Dive Unit, MTO Forestry commanders and Eastern Cape Government Health EMS.

During the night NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty controller Laurent Eray remained in contact with the casualty hiking party, advising them of the rescue operation in the planning stages.

The hikers, who were fortunately well equipped, were told to remain where they were, between the Lottering and Elandsbos Rivers, and stay warm.

The NSRI commended the hikers for organising themselves to keep in contact with Laurent Eray during the night (using WhatsApp from an elevated post near their make-shift campsite), on the hour, every hour, they took turns to stand watch, and to gather fire wood.

The hiking team managed to keep a fire going all night for warmth, despite the fire wood they had collected being wet.

“They are commended for their sterling efforts under these unexpected and trying circumstances,” said the NSRI.

A JOCC (Joint Operations Command Centre) was set up at the MTO Lottering Forestry Station early on Saturday morning that included provincial EMS, police, NSRI officers, MTO and SANParks rangers, SAPS dive unit and a Savannah Helicopters Squirrel helicopter (an MTO resource from George).

The hikers had been forewarned to prepare for their pending evacuation.

An NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue vehicle and a private 4×4 vehicle were dispatched by road to the nearest dirt track that lies nearest to the Keurbos Hut. That rescue party hiked to the Keurbos hut carrying additional gear.

“The Savannah helicopter, piloted by Greg Johnson and accompanied by NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue swimmer Nathan Hart, EMS rescue paramedic, Jaco Kotze, and by Plettenberg Bay First responders medic, James Stewart, reached the hikers,” said the NSRI.

“Locating a landing zone amongst Fynbos about 800 meters from the hikers they landed and hiked to reach the casualties.

“The EMS rescue paramedic and the NSRI rescue swimmer medically assessed the hikers – three were treated for mild smoke inhalation that they had suffered from smoke from the fire that they had huddled near to during the night, but all were in good spirits.”

An existing rope, that lies across the Lottering River, was tightened, inspected for safety, and the rescue swimmer, Nathan, and EMS paramedic, Jaco, used that rope in aiding the hikers across the river in relays of one at a time through chest-deep swift flowing water.

They were brought to the Keurbos Hut where they were met by the land party (from the 4×4 vehicles) and they were further warmed up at the hut before hiking about another 800 meters to the helicopter landing zone that had been established on the dirt track.

In 3 relays they were airlifted aboard the helicopter to the Lottering Forestry Station’s JOCC.

Some of the hikers’ parents were at the Lottering Forestry Station to meet up with the hikers as they were airlifted to the JOCC.

An EMS ambulance had been dispatched and was stationed at the JOCC where EMS paramedics further medically assessed the hikers, as they were landed by the helicopter, finding them all to be in good spirits and in good health.

“They were then driven by private vehicles to Natures Valley which was where they had started their hike and once there, with all being safe and not injured, no further assistance was required,” the NSRI said.

“All services involved are commended for their close cooperation and team work during the rescue evacuation operation.”

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